They were accompanied by their parents V. Shrinivasan and Geetha Shrinivasan.

Aishwarya and Saundarya briefly performed the “Maithreem Bhajatha” — a benediction also rendered by Subbulakshmi in October 1966 at the United Nations. It was sung by Subbulakshmi in most of her subsequent concerts.

A release from the Prime Minister’s Office said the benediction was composed in Sanskrit by Acharya Chandrasekharendra Saraswati of Kanchi and is an anthem for universal friendship and world peace.

It ends with the words “Srey o bhooyat sakala jananam” (let grace and happiness abound for all mankind).